The modern era players focus more on the limited-overs format as T20 has become the most popular form of the sport. However, no one can deny the fact that Test cricket tests the real skills of a cricketer as the players need to have patience, strength, and stamina to play well in the five-day format.
Many limited-overs format superstars have failed to do well in the most prolonged form of the game. Here’s a look at the four Indian players who had a splendid record in ODIs, but had poor numbers in red-ball cricket.
Ajay Jadeja
Former Indian all-rounder, Ajay Jadeja shone in the one-day format as he scored over 5,000 runs and picked up 20 wickets in the 196 matches that he played for India. However, when he donned the whites for the nation, Jadeja could only aggregate 576 runs in 24 innings at a disappointing average of 26.18. His strike rate of 39.37 was another reason behind his poor performance in Test cricket.
Ashish Nehra
The left-arm pacer from Delhi, Ashish Nehra, represented India in 120 ODI matches, scalping 157 wickets at a fantastic bowling strike rate of 36.6. But, he could not achieve the same success in the red ball arena as he took 44 wickets from the 3,447 deliveries that he bowled. As his strike rate was 78.3, the team preferred to look for other options after 2004.
Suresh Raina
One of the most exquisite middle-order batsmen of the country, Suresh Raina scored a hundred on his Test debut. Unfortunately, he could not continue his form in the next fixtures as he could add only 648 runs to his tally in the next 30 innings. Ultimately, his inability to convert his limited-overs success into Tests led to his ouster from the team. Raina’s poor technique against the short-pitched and his lack of feet movement against the moving ball became hurdles for him in Test cricket.
Yuvraj Singh
India’s big match player, Yuvraj Singh, could never cement his place in the Indian Test team. He scored less than 2000 runs in 62 Test innings, whereas he could only dismiss nine batsmen. As a result, his Test career ended way back in 2012, seven years before he announced his retirement. However, he is an absolute legend of white-ball cricketers and one of the most impactful cricketers in the history of ODI cricket.
